QTIC's Queensland Top Tourism Town Awards celebrate our state's diverse and outstanding regional destinations. The Awards recognise and reward towns that work together with their tourism operators, businesses and local community to make their destination the best it can be.
Top Tourism Town Award categories
In 2023, there are three hotly contested award categories, presented to three Queensland destinations based on population size:
Top Tiny Tourism Town - population under 1,500
Top Small Tourism Town - population between 1,500 and 5,000
Top Tourism Town - population over 5,000
Top Tour Guide Award
QTIC's Queensland Top Tour Guide Award celebrates the significant contribution quality tour guides make in our great state. The Award recognises guides that provide a special, distinctive, and memorable experience for visitors.
Meet the 2023 Queensland Award winners
From its picturesque beaches to beaches to its creative community, Caloundra is an idyllic home away from home. The untouched coastline is a haven where your family can reconnect and create lasting memories. Pack lite for a taste of the simple life or fill your schedule with exploring the natural wonder of the Pumicestone Passage. It's hard o wander from the sand, but there are experiences waiting with the magnificent Glass House Mountains a stone's throw away. In the quieter moments, enrich yourself in the town's trendy cafes, street art, and boutiques as you reflect on the moments that will become memories.
Airlie Beach is the Heart of Adventure, known for its stunning scenery, vibrant town centre and action-packed activities. To one side, the coastline is bordered by the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands, offering stunning views of the Coral Sea and to the other, the rich, rainforest-clad hills of the Conway National Park. The town offers a range of activities for visitors, from sailing and snorkelling to hiking and shopping. Airlie Beach also boasts a lively bar and restaurant scene, with plenty of options to enjoy a night out with friends or family.
Winton takes you back to Australia's roots, 1,400 kilometres of north-west Brisbane in Outback Queensland. The 'Way Out West' town is the Dinosaur Capital of Australia, home of Waltzing Matilda and the birthplace of Qantas. The small town continues to steal the hearts of travellers in Australia's outback for its larrikin-like character, flavoured by agricultural ties, surrounding opal mines and grand old pubs.
Joel McPherson's passion for storytelling fills guests with a sense of wonderment and a deep appreciation for the Sunshine Coast, where he provides regional tours through Joel's Journeys. Joel's commitment to tourism has seen him presented with the inaugural 2023 Queensland Top Tour Guide Award.
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